that's the struggle that john boehner's having right now. but it will further define the republican party. and if they can't come to grips with a balanced deal, where you're asking the wealthiest in the country, who have made so much money over the last decade, then that really shows what kind of party they are. and this is about the values that we hold as americans, ed. this is not about numbers. this is about values. >> well, you know, when you look at the way this is setting up, this has got a lot of 2014 talk to it already. i mean, these republicans are going to have to go home and explain, well, i couldn't go along with the tax cuts for the 98% of americans. that would put them against the middle class, wouldn't it? >> yeah. i mean, imagine on friday, when they're all sitting around the table, and the president says, hey, fellas, you know, you're going to be responsible for raising taxes on middle class americans. and if you fail to agree to this top 1% or top 2% tax increase that we're asking for, you go out. the microphones are in the